Electric-arc lamp.



No. 634,085. Patented Oct. 3, I899. A. HAMACEK.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

(Application filed May 12, 18994, (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet w: Nonms PETERS co, PnoTou-mo" WASHINGYON. u c.

No. 634,085. Patented Oct. 3, 1899. A. HAMACEK.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

(Application filed May 12, 1899.1 (No Modem 3 Sheets8heet THE Noam perms cc. momumu, wsummw, a l.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

ADOLPH HAMAOEK, OF STURGEON BAY, \VISCONSTN.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,085, dated October 3, 1899.

Application filed May 12, 1899. Serial No. 716,560. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ADOLPH HAMACEK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sturgeon Bay, in the county of Door and State of \Visconsin, have invented a new and useful Arc-Lamp, of which the following is a specification.

Hy invention relates to electric lighting, and particularly to arc-lamps; and the primary object in View is to provide a lamp of such construction as to adapt it, with slight variations in wiring, for use in connection with constant-potential direct and alternating currents and with series direct and series alternating currents.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the feeding of the positive carbon may be accomplished noiselessly in connection with a high-frequencyalternating current and whereby the feeding of the carbon is accomplished positively, the parts being returned to an initial position should the circuit be broken to reestablish the original conditions and strike the are.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple, compact, and efficient construction and arrangement of parts whereby the solenoid may be adjusted with relation to the armature or plunger or may be readily detached from its supporting devices within the lamp-casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing inductive currents even in those portions of the structure which are necessarily metallic, and particularly to provide the solenoid with a shunt orsecondary winding concentric with the primary winding and fit the solenoid with a bushing of such construction as to prevent inductive currents, whereby the strength of current necessary for operating the lamp may be reduced to the minimum, and also whereby the inductive heating of the operating parts may be prevented to insure an eflicient cooperation thereof. A further object of the invention is to pro vide a negative-carbon support orlead of such construction as to induce a centralization of the are between the carbon-terminals by centralizing the concentration of gases within the globe and at the same time provide a support which will interfere to the minimum extent withthe distribution of the rays of light.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for supporting and connecting the elements of a nonmagnetic and non-conductive casing and related parts.

A further object of the invention is to reduce to the minimum the communication of heat from the globe to the operative parts of the structure, whereby the relative expansion and contraction of the parts may be reduced.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following descrip tion, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it beingunderstood that the improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

To a full disclosure of the invention an embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatic views showing the circuit connections of the lamp embodying my invention when used, respectively, in connection with constant-potential multiple-are direct and alternating circuits and series direct and alternating circuits. Fig. 3 is avertical central sectional view of an arc-lamp constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. l is a transverse horizontal section on the plane indicated by the line a 4 of Fig. Fig. 5 is atransverse horizontal section on the plane indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view of the clutch mechanism and related parts upon a plane at right angles to that of Fig. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the resistance device, showing the switch-arm, contacts, and connections. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the resistance device.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Connected with the base 10 of the lamp, with suitable interposed insulation 11, are the positive and negative lamp poles or leads 12 and 13, consisting of rods which in turn support the hood 1a and which are provided above the hood with suspending-terminals 15, the hood being insulated from the poles, shown at 10, and the suspending devices 15 being provided with pendent guard-flanges 17 to exclude moisture from the interior of the lamp structure. In the construction illustrated the suspending devices are threaded upon the upper extremities of therods 12 and 13, and nuts 18 are correspondingly threaded upon the rods below the plane of the hood to maintain the latter in the desired position.

Supported by the poles 12 and 13 and between the same, by means of insulating upper and lower plates 19 and 20, is a solenoid having the exterior primary or coarse wind- 'ng 21 and the concentric interior secondary or fine winding 22 the fine winding being in the opposite direction to the coarse winding to constitute an opposing or shunt resistance to affect the armature or plunger when the lamp is arranged in a series circuit, said armature or plunger constituting the positivecarbon carrier or holder. The solenoid is provided with a bushing 24, separated from the winding by heat-insulating strips 25 of asbestos to form intermediate air-spaces, said bushing being split or cut away at one side throughout its length from its inner to its outer surface to form an opening to prevent inductive heating by breaking the inductive circuit. In the construction illustrated the solenoid-bushing 2% is terminally secured in openings in the insulating-plates 19 and 20, while the heat-insulating strips are terminally offset to bear against the opposing surfaces of said plates, and the plates are secured at the desired adjustment upon the lamp-poles 12 and 18 to support the solenoid in the desired position with relation to the armature or plunger by means of adjusting devices, such as nuts 27. The armature or plunger is also split or cutaway from its core to its outer surface to prevent inductive heating and is inclosed in an insulating sheath 28.

Rigidly attached to the armature or plunger, as bya screw 29 or other fastening device, is a cross-head 30, and from the extremities of the arms of the cross-head depend fine-wire connections 31, which support the outer extremities of the members 32 of a carbon clutch or grip, the adjacent extremities of said members 82 being pivotally connected and said inner extremities constituting jaws, between which extends the positive or upper carbon 33. lVhen the clutch is supported by the connections 31 at the outer extremities of the members 32, the jaws of the clutch are held in frictional engagement with the carbon to prevent the latter from slipping downward, and arranged in the path of downward movement of the connected extremities of the members 32 is the base 10, whereby when the cross-head is lowered by the weakening of the solenoid the connected portions of the members of the clutch come in contact with said stop, and thus allow the jaws to open to permit the downward feeding of the carbon independently of the clutch or through the clutch. To neutralize the effect of the weight of the cross-head 30 and the clutch, I employ a counterbalancing device, consisting of a forked lever 3 t, of which the arms are pivoted upon standards 35, rising from the base 10, and are provided with terminal weights 3t, and between the inner end of said lever and the cross-head is arranged a flexible connection 37, similar to the connections 31, by which motion is communicated from the crosshead to the members of the clutch. Thus it will be seen that the effect of the counterbalancing device is to relieve the solenoid of the weight of the cross-head and clutch with their connections, whereby the strength of the solenoid need be sufficient only to raise the armature or plunger.

The above-described relation between the members of the carbon-supporting devices, including the connections between the crosshead and the clutch members, is such as to allow the feeding of the carbon with comparative uniformity and little noise; but in order to still further guard against jar and shock, particularly when the device is used in connection with alternating currents, I preferably employ a dash-pot 38 for cushioning the upward and downward movements of the cross-head, the piston 39, which operates in the dash-pot, being flexibly connected by a rod 40 with the cross-head. It will, be understood that the dash-pot serves to cushion both the upward and downward movements of the carbon-carrying mechanism.

Surrounding the base 10, which is cut away from its center to its periphery, as shown at 41, to prevent inductive heating, is a casingsleeve 42, which is perforated or provided with openings to allow circulation of air within the same, and inclosing the upper portion of this sleeve, which is open at its upper end and attached thereto by brackets 42, is a sheath 43, of larger diameter than the sleeve 42 and also open at its upper and lower ends. This sheath, however, is supported by the hood 1 1-, with its upper edge arranged within the space inclosed by the lower edge of the hood, said hood beingprovided with in wardlyextending supporting pins or brackets ll, having a bayonet-slot connection with the sheath. At its lower edge the sheath is provided with set-screws 45 or other attaching devices for a shade 40, the upper edge of the shade being fitted within the space inclosed by the lower edge of the sheath, and hence being overlapped by the latter to prevent access of rain or snow to the interior of the structure. The sleeve and sheath when disconnected from the hood are adapted to be displaced downwardly, and preferably said parts are constructed of non-magnetic and non-conductive materialsuch as porcelain, glass, or the equivalent there'of. Also the lower casing member 42 is provided below the plane of the base 10 with a flared lower edge.

Arranged below the base and supported out of contact therewith by means of screw-rods 4:7 and incasing sleeves 4:8 is a cap-plate at),

IIO

which in turn supports the lamp-globe 50, a heat-insulating disk 51, of asbestos or equivalent material, being interposed between the upper edge of the globe and said cap to prevent the conduction of heat and at the same time to form a cushion to receive the upper edge of the globe, whereby differential expansions of the parts may not serve to affect the integrity of the globe, Said insulatingcushion may be protected by a depending flange 52 on the cap, and this flange may carry globe-attaching set-screws 53. The positive carbon depends from the interior of the casing through the cap-plate and into the globe 50 for terminal contact with the lower or negative carbon 54, which is supported within the globe by means of a hanger 55. In the construction illustrated this hanger consists of a plurality of cross-sectionally flat leads 56, arranged at uniform intervals around the carbons and at a uniform distance therefrom and with their edge portions facing the carbons, and said leads, which are spread or arched outwardly in planes radiating from the carbons, are united at their lower extremities to form a socket 57, designed for the reception of the lower or negative carbon. The peculiar construction of this support is designed to insure a fixed non-vibratory support for the lower carbon, while affording the least possible obstruction to the rays of light emanating from the arc, and it is obvious that the disposition of the leads, with their widths or side surfaces in radial planes and arched, as described, will serve to effectually brace the socket 57 against lateral vibration. Furthermore, however, the uniform spacing or distribution of the leads around the carbons serves to prevent anon-uniform deflection of the gases within the globe and cause a uniform circulation thereof, which tends to centralize the are between the extremities of the carbons, and thus insure a more uniform consumption of the carbons. The leads of the negativecarbon support are connected with the negative pole 13 by means of a connecting-pin 58 and a switchfifl, and the connection between the positive element of the lamp structure and the positive carbon is effected by means of a brush 60, carried by the base 10, said base constituting one of the elements of the circuit between the solenoid and the positive carbon.

The cross-head 30 carries a series contact 61, and attached to the negative pole 13 is a cooperating series contact 62, consisting of an arm held at the desired adjustment with relation to the rod 13 by means of a setscrew 63. Also this stationary contact 62 is adapted to be turned upon the rod 13 out of the path of the movable contact 61, said movable contact being actuated by the solenoid through a cross-head, which is carried of the armature or plunger.

In addition to the above-described mechanism I also employ a resistance device, which may be arranged either within. the lamp-casing or cxteriorly thereof, as maybe preferred. As shown in the drawings, Fig. 3, this resistance device is arranged within and is supported by the hood 1%, and consists of a suitable non-magnetic and non'conductive casing 64, of porcelain or its equivalent, engaged by clips 65, which are adjustably attached to the hood by means of screws 06. Obviously the specific construction of this resistance device may be varied to suit the peculiarities of the circuit and current with which the lamp may be used. For instance, in connection with a multiple-arc constant-potential alternating current I employ a resistance device consisting of a reactive conduction-coil, comprising a magnetic soft-iron core 67, of sheet metal, provided with insulated or skeleton winding 68, having a leading-in connection 69 and a plurality of terminal contacts 70, said leading-in connection being attached to a switch 71, which is pivotally mounted upon a swivelpin 72 and is adapted to be arranged in operative relation with either of the contacts to cut in any desired proportion of the resistance device, according to the requirements of the current. The switch may also be provided with a fuse 73. The switch whereby the resistance may be varied or ad justed is not illustrated in connection with the diagrammatic representation of the resistance device shown in Fig. 3, as it is obvious that the controlling-switch may be arranged in any desired position with relation to the coil, or, if preferred, the entire resistance device, including the switch and coil, may be arranged exteriorly of the lamp-casing, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the connections and wiring whereby the lamp embodying my invention is adapted for use in connection with a constant-potential alternating current in a multiple-arc circuit, from which it will be seen that from the positive pole 12 the current passes through the reactive induction resistance-coil to the coarse or primary winding of the solenoid and thence to the base 10, through the brush to the carbons, and finally through the leads 56 and the switch 50 to the negative pole 13 and out. It will be understood that the function of the reactive resistance device consists in setting up counter induced currents which oppose the original or primary current, and thus interfere and impede 01' counteract the effect of the primary current to an extent proportionate to thelength of the winding which is arranged in the circuit and to the strength of the current. With the parts in their original positions the carbons are terminally in contact, the armature or plunger, with the cross-head and clutch supported thereby, being depressed; but upon passing a current through the lamp the solenoid is energized and the armature is'elevated to cause the clutch members 32 to grip the positive carbon, and thus raise the same to strike the are. As the resistance of the are due to the abnormal separation of the carbon terminals increases the effect of the solenoid upon the armature is lessened, and consequently the armature is allowed to descend gradually to maintain an approximately uniform interval between the carbon-points. When this depression of the armature has proceeded sufficiently to bring the connected extremities of the clutch members into contact with the stop formed by the upper surface of the base, the jaws of the clutch will be opened and the carbon will be fed downward to reduce the arc resistance, whereupon the solenoid will increase in strength to again raise the armature. Should the current cease for any cause, the armature will drop to its original position and the clutch will be opened to release the positive carbon and allow it to drop until checked by contact with the extremity of the negative carbon. The suddenness, however, of the change in the relative positions of the parts will be cushioned by the dash-pot and will also be relieved by the flexible connections between the cross-rod and the clutch members.

To adapt the lamp for use in connection with a direct current in a multiple-arc circuit, it is necessary simply to substitute an ordinary resistance-coil for the reactive resistance device, said resistance-coil consisting of a non-magnetic core having a German-silver winding, the connections being identical with those hereinbefore describedand shown in Fig. 1.

For use in connection with either direct or alternating currents in series circuits I employ a resistance-coil R, Fig. 2, which may be located in the same relative position in the lamp-casing as the resistance device 1%, Fig. 1, said resistance-coil being connected at one end with the positive pole of the lamp and having its other end connected with the movable series contact 61, the coarse or primary winding of the solenoid being connected at one end with the positive pole l2 and at the other end with the plate 10; but in series lighting I employ the hereinbefore-described secondary or fine winding of the solenoid, the ends of said winding being connected, respectively, with the positive and negative poles 12 and 13 of the lamp to bridge the same, and thus constitute a shunt resistance. Vith this relation between the parts the current passes from the positive pole, first, through the resistance-coil R to the movable contact 61,'and thence through the stationary contact 62 (which in series lighting is arranged in the path of said contact 61) to the negative pole; second, through the solenoid-winding 21 to the plate 10, and thence through the carbons and the switch 50 to the negative pole, and, third, from the positive pole through the secondary solenoid-win din g to the negative pole, a very small proportion, however, passing through said secondary winding. As soon as the current is turned into the lamp, therefore,

there is the passage of a small. portion there of through the primary solenoid-winding; but this is sufficient to energize the solenoid to the extent necessary to raise the cross-head and open the circuit through the resistance at 61 and turn all current through carbon and strike the arc. The raising of the cross-head separates the contacts 61 and 62, and thereby cu ts out the resistance before the positive carbon is raised from the negative, and hence closes the entire current through the solenoid. An important feature of my improved construction resides in the fact that in series lighting the striking of the arc is accompanied by the cutting out of all resistance, and thus allowing the entire current to pass through the solenoid and the carbons. As the separation between the points of the carbons increases and the elevating effect of the primary solenoid decreases the opposite effect of the secondary solenoid-winding increases to induce a greater opposition to the elevating effect to the main solenoid-winding, and thus lower the armature or plunger to cause the reduction of the interval between the carbon-points. hen the downward tendency of the secondary winding becomes ellicient to overcome the opposite tendency of the primary winding and brings the connected extremities of the clutch members into contact with the fixed stop formed by the baseplate 10, the carbon will be released and allowed to drop and assume a position necessary to form a normal are, as hereinbefore described in connection with the arrangement of parts illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that in addition to cushioning the parts and so relating them as to produce a noiseless carbon-feeding mechanism and also in addition to providing means for preventing inductive heating of the metallic parts of the structure (all of those parts which are not necessarily metallic being of non-magnetic and non-conductive material) I have arranged the operating parts of the mechanism entirely outside of the globe and removed from the point at which the arc is formed and at the same time have inclosed the carbon-terminals to exclude currents of air and other influences liable to affect the'centralization of the arc.

Furthermore, from the foregoing description it will be seen that I have separated the globe-cap from the base of the lamp-casing to form an intervening air-space in which the switch 59 for controlling the passage of the current through the lamp is located, and, furthermore, have insulated the cap from the globe by an interposed cushion.

Furthermore, it will be seen that the necessary adjustment of the connections to adapt the lamp embodying my invention to either of the kinds of currents in use maybe accomplished with facility and that the lamp is simple in construction and that the parts may be readily disconnected to give access to the interior for cleaning and repairing.

IIaving described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an arc-lamp, a solenoid, a resistance device, an armature or plunger actuated by the solenoid, a carbon-carrier and a connected clutch, a counterbalancing-lever flexibly con nected with the carrier and adapted to counterbalance the weight of the carrier, and a dash-pot having its piston connected with the carrier, substantially as specified.

2. In an arc-lamp, a solenoid, a resistance device, an armature or plunger actuated by the solenoid, a carbon-carrier supported by the armature or plunger, a carbon-clutch flexibly connected with the carrier and having pivotally-eonnected jaws, cushioning devices for resisting the movements in opposite directions of the carrier, a stop arranged in the path of the pivotally-connected ends of the clutchjaws and a counterbalancing-lever flexibly connected with the carrier and adapted to counterbalance the weight of the carrier,substantially as specified.

In an arc-lam p, the combination ofa base and a hood, rods connecting the base and hood and forming circuit-poles, a sheath detachably connected with the hood and loosely fitted at its upper edge within the same, means carried by the sheath for supporting a shade, and a sleeve connected with and supported by the same, and arranged at its lower end to inclose the base, substantially as specified.

4. In an are-lamp, the combination of abase and a hood, rods connecting the base and hood and forming circuit-poles, a sheath having a bayonet-joint connection with the hood and spaced therefrom to form a ventilatingopening, means carried by the sheath for supportin g a shade, and a sleeve carried by the sheath, arranged at its lower end to surround said base, and provided with an air-inlet opening, substantially as specified.

5. In an arc-lamp, the combination with a casing having a base and a connected hood,

a solenoid arranged within the casing, a carbon-carrier actuated by the solenoid, a carhon-clutch flexibly connected with the carrier and a counterbalancing-lever flexibly connected with the carrier and adapted to counterbalance the weight of the carrier and clutch, and a globe-supporting cap arranged below the base and supported thereby to form an intervening airspace, substantially as specified.

(3. In an arc-lamp, the combination with a casing having a base and a connected hood, a solenoid arranged within the casing, a carbon-carrier actuated by the solenoid, a carbon-clutch flexibly connected with the carrier and a counterbalancing-lever flexibly connected with the carrier and adapted to counterbalance the weight of the carrier and clutch, a cap supported below and at an interval from said base to form an air-space, an arc-in closing globe supported by said cap, and a cushion interposed between the globe and said cap, substantially as specified.

7. In an arc-lamp, the combination with a casing having a base and a connected hood, a solenoid arranged within the casing, a carbon-carrier actuated by the solenoid, a carbon-clutch flexibly connected with the carrier and a counter-balancing-lever flexibly connected with the carrier and adapted to counterbalance the weight of the carrier and clutch, a cap supported below and at an interval from said base to form an air-space, an arc-inclosing globe supported by said cap, and a heat-non-conducting cushion interposed between the upper edge of the globe and the adjacent surface of said cap, substantially as specified.

S. In an arc-lamp, a solenoid having a longitudinally-slotted bushing, a longitudinallyslotted armature fitted for reciprocatory movement in the bushing, and provided with an exterior insulation, a resistance device, the armature or plunger being adapted for actuation by the solenoid, a carbon-carrier supported by the armature, a carbon-clutch flexibly connected with the carrier and having pivotally-connected jaws, cushioning devices for resisting the movements in opposite directions of the carrier, a stop arranged in the path of the pivotally-connccted ends of the clutchjaws, and a counterbalancing-lev er flexibly connected with the carrier and adapt ed to counterbalance the weight of the carrier.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ADOLPH HAMACEK.

Vitn esses:

G. W. ALLEN, WM. A. LA.VRENCE. 

